Son Muntaner Feature Review

Son Muntaner is part of the 63 hole Arabella Golf Resort, which is just five minutes from the Centre of Palma de Mallorca.

Son Muntaner was the second course to be added to the complex and was designed by German course architect Kurt Rossknecht, with a brief to create a longer course to compliment Son Vida… he definitely met that brief!

Even though it’s a fairly recent course, you’ll still encounter some history… namely Mallorca's oldest olive tree - "Sa Capitana" on the 15th hole. It’s said to be 1,000 years old and has been officially landmarked by the local Government of Palma de Mallorca.

In 2009, Son Muntaner hosted the “Mallorca Skins Game” with José María Olozábal, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Robert Karlsson. Search it on YouTube!

Pre Round Thoughts

When you arrive at the Arabella Golf Resort, you can immediately appreciate the scale of the operation. As is often the case with courses such as this, on arrival you are very much catered for with exceptional customer service. Before you’ve had the chance to get your sunglasses on and retrieve your clubs from the taxi, a caddy master is already welcoming you and taking them to a safe place.

Got your bearings? Good. Check in and have a look around the fantastic and well-stocked pro-shop before finding your way to the practice facilities. Now, the practice facilities are incredible. Huge grass ranges, short game areas and the biggest practice green you’ve ever seen… so make sure you arrive early enough to really take advantage.

Once ready, you can make your way to the first tee. Something I thought was particularly thoughtful, especially when it gets busy is that the entrance to the tee box is roped off and you can only access once the starter allows you to, meaning you don’t end up with lots of people watching you hit that nervous first tee shot!

Oh… and If you take a buggy, make sure you remember to set the GPS to the correct metric!

Par 3s

Let's start with the 7th hole. It plays 142 yards plays downhill with out of bounds to the right. You play the shot into a fantastic tree lined amphitheatre. Club selection is so important, as whilst there are no bunkers, position on the green is key to scoring.

The 13th is a lovely hole. Again, not long at 131 yards, but can easily catch you out. Slightly uphill to a speedy two-tiered green that’s surrounded by trees and bunkers.

A special mention must go to the 11th hole… and all of its 215 yards to reach the green, which is a little off to the left. If you’ve got a draw in your locker, this is the time to pull it out!

Par 4s

To start you off easy, the 1st is 385 yard with a dog leg right. From an elevated tee, the bunkers are in range on the left side of the fairway and OB to the right. No pressure then. Oh, then there is water protecting the green to the left and back! Sorry, did I say it was easy?!

The 4th is a fabulous hole, and a real thinker. 412 yards with very cleverly placed fairway bunkers and a gully 70 yards short of a tiered green which is surround by trees.

Starting the back 9, the 400 yard 10th is straight, but you’ll need to consider your club off the tee. With two bunkers in play to the left at around 200 yards and a wall across the fairway at 230, you could play into trouble. Playing into a narrow green with bunkering front left and all along the right-hand side of the green.

Finally, the 18th… and what a finishing hole it is. 385 yards with an intimidating tee shot. As you tee up your ball, you’re trying to figure out where to aim through the tight tunnel of trees staring back at you. Make it through safely, you have a slightly uphill second shot into another narrow green, with two bunkers right and one to the left.

Par 5s

The 520 yard 2nd hole is the first Par 5 you come to, and is a looker from the tee. With a narrow fairway and water all the way along the right hand side, you are naturally drawn to the left. When you get to the second shot, not only do you have the water right, you have OB to the left before a collection of bunkers around the narrow green.

The 532 yard hole 8 is the hardest on the course. From a high, elevated tee, you have a great view of the dogleg right awaiting you. With OB all along the left and a strategically placed bunker on the right, you’re praying for a good tee shot. Once you’ve navigated the gully at 150 yards in, you have a shot into a beautiful kidney shaped green, surrounded by bunkers.

The 16th was my favourite of the Par 5s… not because it was one of the shorter ones either at 470 yards! Off the tee, you have a bunker right of the fairway that comes into play around 200 yards. Then you have three more as the fairway narrows 30 yards from the green, giving you every chance of hitting them with your first and second shots. The green is another tight one, with two levels… make a par, and be very, very happy!

Post Round

Son Muntaner is a very enjoyable golf course to play. It’s a course that will be a challenge for the low handicap golfer, but one that will still be fair for those with higher handicaps. The condition of the course was good, although not as green and lush as Son Vida. That said, the greens rolled well and were very true.

The facilities, however, are genuinely fantastic. I was there at the weekend they must have had 75 juniors all having coaching in the various practice facilities; fantastic to see a course really trying to grow the game and engage the youngsters.

Once you’ve finished your round in the hot Spanish sun, there’s no better place than the balcony restaurant overlooking the course… a fantastic spot to discuss the round over a nice cool drink.

All in all, if you’re heading to Mallorca, Son Muntaner is well worth a visit.